Just started my tunnel two days ago (HO Layout) and you just gave me a whole new prospective on creating scenery. Now with a shorter tunnel I have room for another small industry on the other side of the hills! Thanks DJ!
I know this is an old video, but an advantage for you with trees. Have you heard of the plant sedum? These flower very well and after the flowers are finished you can use them as dry trunks, that you can add leaves etc to them to make great trees. Each plant will produce many flowers with which you can cut down to scale. Cheap and realistic looking trees. Until next time.
I understand the paying for it. I have large supply that i have accumulated form many sources. All free. Last bunch came from new house down the street, and a ton out of new furniture boxes. Happy Ann.
You always have some cool things to show DJ! Great tips, cool how to and good real train information. Thanks for sharing you knowledge with us modelers. And the end was funny, I like it :-) RT
DJ, I enjoy your videos, I hope you enjoy making them :-) When I do a sky background, I start with a nice blue at the top and gradually add small portions of white to the mix as I make my way down; using horizontal strokes so that any streaks look like wisps of cloud. If I am feeling artistic I can add a little pure white as thin horizontal strokes near the bottom. Clouds are another story altogether and so far I have not mastered the technique but my backdrops are better now in my photos
Usually I do, in fact, all the foam was recycled from my previous dismantled layouts, but I was getting low on it, and didn't feel like driving back to Home Depot. It's my birthday/anniversary weekend.
Great video. Thanks for the ideas, especially using the google earth images to "see" the overall. Neat credits at the end too. I didn't see Steven Spielburg though...
DJ, that piggyback ramp looks a little high? Hope there isn't any glassware in that trailer. Nice video, Nice engine house, North Bessemer is looking good. I think the only thing I would have done differently, sandwich a 2 inch foam board between two pieces of hardboard for your backdrop and tunnel. The Union layout is looking great, two thumbs up. Looking forward to more progress videos on your layout.
I would suggest reworking the foreground hill to be a little lower. It doesn't seem to match the very low-slope gentle topography of the prototype location. When you get trees planted, their canopy will obscure the view of the tunnel; it would be neat if you could catch glimpses of the portal through the branches.
I really wanted to go to the area with my video camera and try to capture it better, but this weather has been terrible, and I didn't have time. It is also pretty hard to access by foot because it is a muddy hill to climb down. Maybe when the weather improves, I'll get a chance.
Just a suggestion I've seen but you wouldn't be able to run a train through is to put a mirror in the tunnel to give the illusion that the tunnel goes through to another side
no. Yard tracks have to be flat so conductors can walk all around, and not up and down small elevations. Drainage would be on the outside of the yard, not individual tracks.
hey DJ.... looks like you are spot on with the engine house... i like your tunnel scene looks great & fantastic idea... what turnouts are you using? are you using code 80 or 55 track?.. keep up the outstanding work vinny
djstrains thanks DJ.. just wondering because i am switching over to Peco turnouts but seem to have a problem using them with my code 55 track.. if you know of any one that uses the Pecos w/ code 55.. i would appreciate it if you put them in touch with me thanks again vinny
I dj! good ideas and very honest advices! thks...I'm not from the US so I'm discovering the class III railroads and operations...a whole new world of possibilities...Con you give me the location of the yard to find it on google earth? keep rolling men! (and sorry about my poor english ;) )
Thks! was where i thought...but the engine house was difficult to find, since the tracks are almost invisible there! It will be nice if you do more videos of prototypical operations on class III railroads (nobody does) Cheers from Argentina!
Off topic question- Do you know of what the work environment is like in the maintenance way department of the class I's? I am considering pursuing a position in management on the maintenance of way side. Do you like working for CSX overall?
The MOW guys are pretty laid back and easy to get along with. I really prefer not to broadcast publicly online how I feel about CSX or it's management. It's better to not say anything at this point.
www.needztrains.com is my primary local hobby store. If he is out, and I need it asap, I'll try scenic express in Delmont, Pa. Worst case scenario, I'll drive to Esther's Hobby in Millville.
I'm finally able to message you back! Thanks for your reply to me. As my builds and my collection grows, ones like you have helped me build a network of ideas and where to find assorted supplies. I'm from the Harrisburg, Carlisle area now, and I still call Englishes Model Trains from where I grew up in Montoursville , Pa, for technical questions. People there used to work directly with the Bowser model locomotive manufacturer.
